Baby carriage



pril 2l, QS v 1 LARSEN 937,987

BABY CARRIAGE Filed Sept. 30, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l ,MAM

/M Y 'N Patented Apr. 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BABY CARRIAGEApplication September 30, 1935, Serial No. 42,723

7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in baby carriages and it consistsof the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed outin the appended claims.

The baby carriage with which the invention is more particularlyconcerned is of the folding kind which includes folding end frames and acollapsible body with a rigid top frame having a sliding guidedengagement with the end frames so that the body may slide downwardlywith respect to the end frames into a collapsed condition and so thatthe end frames may then be swung inwardly and downwardly upon thecollapsed body.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide in a foldingcarriage of this kind, a simple and efficient connection between thebody top frame and the end frames, whereby the folding and unfolding oropening operations may be readily carried out.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a carriage of thiskind, a structure wherein certain locking members in the form of springpressed plungers carried by the end of the collapsible body top frame,slide in guide grooves in the side members of the folding end frames andin one position are adapted to engage certain iixed parts of said si-demembers to hold the end frames in their upright position whereby thebody is maintained in its open or unfolded condition for use.

The above mentioned objects of the invention as well as others, togetherwith the several advantages thereof, will more fully appear as I proceedwith my specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a yperspective view of the improved baby carriage whenextended or opened into its condition for use, certain parts of the bodythereof being shown as broken away more clearly to disclose the bottomcontour frame therefor.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the carriage in its folded or collapsedcondition.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale, partly in elevationand partly in section of the top portion of the front end of thecarriage when in its open or extended condition.

Fig. 4 is a View in side elevation of the parts appearing at the bottomof Fig. 3.

Fig. is a horizontal detail vertical sectional view on an enlargedscale, through a part of the carriage, as taken on the line 5-5 of Fig.3.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention, illustratedin the accompanying drawings, the carriage includes a wheel framecomprising ya pair of substantially horizontal, longitudinal framemembers |0-I0 having upturned front and rear ends II and I2respectively. The frame members are held in spaced relation by means offront and rear axles I3 and I4 carrying the usual pairs of wheels I5 andI6 respectively. As the specific structure whereby the axles areconnected to the frame members Ill-IU, forms no part of the presentinvention, the same is not illustrated or described in detail herein.

I'I indicates the front end frame of a generally inverted U shape andincluding side members or legs I8- 8 and a top connecting member I9. Thebottom end of each side member I8 has a clip strap 20 secured to theoutside thereof. Each strap extends a suitable distance beyond theextremity of its associated side member and is pivotally connected tothe extremity of an upturned frame member end II by. means of a pin 2|.The extremity of each clip strap is bent to form a hook 22 to engage apart of the associated frame end Il so as to limit the pivotal orswinging movement of the front end frame in one direction, to asubstantially upright position as best shown in Fig. 1.

Preferably each side member I8 of the frame I'I is tubular. In the innerwall of each member is a longitudinal slot 23 and in the outer wall ofeach member I8 is an opening 24 at the top end of the slot.

From the construction above described, it is apparent that the end framemay be swung from its folded position wherein it is disposedsubstantially horizontal as best shown in Fig. 2, to its unfolded, openor extended, substantially upright position as shown in Fig. 1, and viceversa. It is to be understood, however, that the upright position isdetermined by the engagement of the hooks 22 of the clip straps, withthe associated upturned end II of the wheel frame side members IIJ-I0.

25 indicates the rear end frame of the carriage and which frame is alsoof a generally inverted U shape. Said frame includes side members orlegs 26-26 and a top connecting member 21. The side members 26-26 of thesaid frame are of a length greater than the corresponding members of thefront end frame. The top ends of said side members are curved rearwardlyso as to bring the cross member 21, When said rear end frame is in itsextended position, into an elevation convenient for use as a pushhandle. A hand grip 28 may be employed on the cross member for thispurpose. The top curved ends of the side members are also spreadslightly outwardly so as to permit said frame to fold down upon thefront end frame Il into a more compact folded condition as best shown inFig. 2.

The bottom end of each side member 26 has a clip strap 29 secured to theoutside thereof and which clip strap is similar to the clip strap 20before mentioned in connection with the front end frame I1. Each clipstrap 29 extends a suitable distance beyond the extremity of itsassociated side member and is pivotally connected to the correspondingend I2 of the wheel frame side members I0 by a pin 39. The extremity ofeach clip strap is bent to form a hook 3! to engage a part of theassociated end I2 so as to limit the pivotal or swinging movement of therear end frame, in one direction to a substantially upright extendedposition as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. In this so-called upright extendedposition, the bottom straight end of the side members do not extendtruly perpendicular but lean slightly rearwardly thereof as this gives abetter push angle for the frame in pushing the carriage in theconventional manner.

It is to be understood, of course, that each side member 26 of the rearend frame is provided along the inner wall thereof with a longitudinalslot and the outer wall thereof has an opening substantially at the topend of the slot, just as in the case of the front end frame.

32 indicates, as a whole, the body of the carriage which includes a bodyfabric 33 and a rigid top frame comprising the side members 34 and endmembers 35, (see Fig. 5). The end members each have end portions 36 bentto engage the inside of the side members 34 and which end portions aresecured thereto by the rivets or pins 31-38. Parallel with but spacedoutwardly from each end member 35 is a hollow bar 39 that carries endbrackets 40 which are pivotally connected to the associated top framemembers 34 by the pins 38 before mentioned.

In each hollow bar are spring pressed plunger rods 4 I the inner ends ofwhich are turned downwardly to terminate in actuating knobs 152-42. Theouter end of each plunger rod normally extends through the slot 23 andinto each side member of the end frame. In one position the extremity ofeach rod extends into the opening 24 in each side member of the endframe. When said extremities are engaged in said openings, this locksthe bar 39 and associated end of the body frame to the end frame to holdthe carriage in the extended condition.

To prevent a lateral tilting of the bar in its movement with respect tothe side members which would cramp easy operation, I provide in eachside member of the end frame a runner or guide block 43 through whichthe outer end of the plunger rod 4I extends with a sliding bearing. Whenthe plunger rods are moved toward each other, so as to withdraw theirextremities from the openings 24 in the end frame side members I8, saidextremities are retained in said guide blocks which slide up and down inthe side members according to whether the carriage is being opened orclosed.

It is to be understood that there is a bar 39 at each end of the bodytop frame and each bar is operatively engaged with the side members ofthe corresponding end frame as above described, the parts shown in Fig.3 being those associated with the front end frame I1.

The body fabric 33 includes side walls 44, bottorn wall 45 and end walls46 suitably secured together at their margins. The top margins of theside and end walls are formed with hemmed pockets 41 and 48 to receivethe side and end members of the body top frame whereby the body fabricis operatively secured to said body top frame.

The side walls of the body fabric are cut to such pattern that when saidbody is in its open or extended condition, it substantially follows thecontour of the wheel frame members I0, the front end frame and thebottom portion of the rear end frame.

The top frameV for the body is of such length that when the carriage isin its unfolded open position, it exerts an outward pressure, forwardlyand rearwardly on the end frames to slightly spring the clip straps29-29 so that the said end frames are somewhat tensioned to rigidify theframe structure as a whole.

Associated with the body is a foldable hood 49 of any approved form thatis pivotally connected to the side members of the body top frame, at apoint about midway of the ends thereof.

The body fabric being flexible, there is provided within the bottom ofthe body, a frame 59 which not only holds the body bottom to form, butwhich supports the usual cushioning material for the baby occupant.

When the carriage is in its open extended condition, ready for use, andit is desired to fold the carriage for storage or transport it in anautomobile, the procedure is as follows:

The operator grasps the two knobs 42 of the plunger rods 4I associatedwith the front end frame I'I and pinches them together. This retractsthe extremities of said plunger rods 4| from the openings 24 in the sidemembers of the end frame, when the gravitation action of the associatedend of the body frame will cause the rods to slide downwardly in theslots 23 in said side members until stopped by the bottom ends of saidslots.

This will collapse the front end of the body, the fabric of which foldsinto pleats. The front end frame I'l is then swung inwardly anddownwardly into position upon the corresponding end of the body.

The parts of the rear end frame are actuated in a similar manner tocollapse the corresponding end of the body. The rear end frame 25 isthen swung inwardly and downwardly upon the collapsed body, the handleend of the frame being made wide to overlap the folded down front frameas best shown in Fig. 2.

To open the carriage into its extended condition for use, the rear endframe is swung into its substantially upright position as limited by theclip straps 29. The bar 39 associated with the rear end of the bodyframe is then lifted upwardly, the plunger rods associated therewith,sliding through the slots 23 of the side members of the frame untiltheir extremities reach the openings 24 to snap thereintol. The frontend frame is then swung into its upright position as limited by the clipstraps 20 after which a lift on the bar 39 associated with said endframe will cause the plunger rods 4I to slide up the slots of the sidemembers of the end frame until their extremities snap into the openings24. At this time the body will be in its opened extended condition readyfor use.

The parts are so correlated that they rigidly hold the carriage body inits open condition for use. The carriage is easy to manipulate in thefolding and opening thereof and the parts are so disposed as to visiblysuggest the manner of such manipulation even to a novice.

While in describing my invention, I have referred in detail to the form,arrangement and construction of the various parts thereof, the same isto be considered only in its illustrative sense so that I do not wish tobe limited thereto except as may be specifically set forth in theappended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a folding baby carriage, the combination of a wheel frameincluding substantially horizontal side members, an end frame includinga pair of side members pivotally connected to one end of the sidemembers of the wheel frame for a swinging movement from a substantiallyupright position to a position substantially parallel with the sidemembers of the wheel frame, the side members of the end frame eachhaving a longitudinal slot therein, a collapsible body having a rigidtop frame, members movable with one end of the top frame and havingportions slidably engaged in said slots in said side members of the endframe, and means for releasably locking said members movable With thesaid top frame to the top end of the associated side members of the endframe so as to hold the latter in its substantially upright position andso that one end of said body is supported thereby in its extendedcondition.

2, In a folding baby carriage, the combination of a wheel frameincluding substantially horlzontal side members, an end frame includinga pair of side members pivotally connected to one end of the sidemembers of the wheel frame for a swinging movement from a substantiallyupright position to a position substantially parallel with the sidemembers of the wheel frame, the side members of the end frame eachhaving a longitudinal slot therein, a collapsible body having a rigidtop frame, spring pressed plungers movable with one end of the top frameand having portions slidably engaged in the slotsl in said side membersof the end frame and adapted to enter certain openings in said sidemembers of the end frame to hold the latter in a substantially uprightposition so that one end of said body is supported thereby in itsextended condition.

3. In a folding baby carriage, the combination of a wheel frameincluding substantially horizontal side members, an end frame includinga pair of side members pivotally connected to one end of the sidemembers of the wheel frame for a swinging movement from a substantiallyupright position to a position substantially parallel with the sidemembers of the wheel frame, the side members of the end frame eachhaving a longitudinal slot therein, a collapsible body having a rigidtop frame, a cross bar operatively connected to one end of said topframe of the body, and spring pressed plungers carried by said bar, oneextending through and slidable in each slot in the associated sidemember of the end frame and adapted to engage a fixed part of said sidemember so as to hold said side members in their substantially uprightposition and so that one end of said body is supported thereby in itsextended condition.

4. In a folding baby carriage, the combination of a wheel frameincluding substantially horizontal side members, an end frame includinga pair of tubular side members each with a lon` gitudinal slot in itsinside wall and an opening in its outside wall near the top end of theslot, means pivotally connecting the bottom end of each tubular sidemember of said end frame to an associated end of the side members of thewheel frame so that said end frame may be swung from a substantiallyupright position to a position substantially parallel with the sidemembers of the wheel frame, a collapsible body having a rigid top frame,members movable with one end of the top frame and having portionsslidably extending through said slots so as to engage in said openingsto hold said end frame in its upright position wherebyone end of thebody is held in its extended condition, said members being withdrawablefrom said openings so as to slide downwardly in said slots to collapsethe associated end of the body and so that said end frame may be swunginwardly and downwardly upon said body.

5. In a folding baby carriage, the combination of a wheel frameincluding substantially horizontal side members, an end frame includinga pair of tubular side members each with a longitudinal slot in itsinside wall and an opening in its outside wall near the top end of theslot, means pivotally connecting the bottom end of each tubular sidemember to an associated end of the side members of the wheel frame sothat said end frame may be swung from a substantially upright positionto a position substantially parallel with the side members of the wheelframe, a collapsible body having a rigid top frame, a cross barextending between the tubular members of each end frame and operativelyconnected to the body top frame, a pair of spring pressed plungerscarried by said bar with portions extending slidably through each slotso as to engage in an associated opening in the outside wall of saidtubular side members to hold said end frame in its upright position,said plungers being releasable from said openings so that they may slidedown said slots to permit the said end of the body to collapse and tothen permit the end frame to be swung inwardly and downwardly upon thecollapsed body.

6. In a folding baby carriage, the combination of a wheel frameincluding substantially hori- Zontal side members, an end frameincluding a pair of tubular side members each with a longitudinal slotin its inside Wall and an opening in its outside wall near the top endof the slot, means pivotally connecting the bottom end of each tubularside member to an associated end of the side members of the wheel frameso that said end frame may be swung from a substantially uprightposition to a position substantially parallel with the side members ofthe wheel frame, a collapsible body having a rigid top frame, membersmovable with the ends of the top frame and having portions slidablyextending through the slots so as to engage in said openings so as tohold said end frame in its upright position, and runner blocks slidablein said tubular side members and in which end portions of said movablemembers engage so that said portions move in parallelism, said movablemembers being actuatable to withdraw said end portions from saidopenings so that said portions may slide down- Wardly in said slots tocollapse one end of the body and so that said end frame may be swunginwardly and downwardly upon the collapsed body.

7. In a folding baby carriage, an end frame pivotally mounted at itsbottom end and including tubular side members each with a longitudinalslot in its inside wall and an opening in its outside wall, near the topend of said slot, a body top frame, a bar pivotally connected theretoand arranged in the plane of the side members of the end frame, and apair of spring pressed plungers carried by said bar and having endportions slidably extending through said slots to engage in saidopenings to lock the end frame and top frame together.

LEWIS LARSEN.

